James Loney was out.

Or so we thought.

The 9th inning was a complete nightmare and exposed the Cardinals shaky bullpen in just a few minutes.  The task at hand just got significantly more difficult as the Cardinals fly east and attempt to extend the series to Sunday.

I am realistic.  The Cardinals chances of winning the series are slim.  However, I remember the 2002 Division Series out in Arizona.  Randy Johnson.  Curt Schilling.  Tough to beat in a short series.  The Cardinals roughed up Johnson in Game 1 and then won in a pitcher’s duel in Game 2 over Schilling.  Does this sound familiar?  As a Cardinals fan, I really felt the pressure to win the series in 3 games because of how tough Johnson and Schilling would be to beat again.

The Dodgers have to feel that pressure.  And if not, they will Sunday.

I look for the Cardinals to win game 3 rather easily behind Joel Pineiro (2.76 ERA at Busch), who has had success against LA this season (8 ip, 1 ER).  LA counters with below average starter Vicente Padilla.

TLR should come back with Carpenter on short rest Sunday and if they happen to still be alive heading back west, Adam Wainwright will be on regular rest for the all or nothing deciding Game 5.

Obviously, the Dodgers do not want that to be the case.

During the regular season, Chris Carpenter gave up 4 or more runs just 3 times.  In his 3 starts following the 4 or more earnies, he compiled a 1.23 ERA and the Cardinals won all 3 games.  Adam Wainwright’s outing at Chavez Ravine yesterday speaks for itself and I see him having a similar game out in LA on Tuesday.

If he gets the chance.

Here are my playoff picks.  I made them Tuesday.

Colorado over Philadelphia in 5.

St. Louis over Los Angeles in 4.

New York over Minnesota in 4.

Anaheim over Boston in 5.

NLCS

St. Louis over Colorado in 7.

ALCS

Anaheim over New York in 6.

World Series

Anaheim over St. Louis in 6.

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